Cities Want Federal Grants

Here’s another article claiming that the fact that cities are foolish enough to accept federal grants to build streetcars proves that “America has a renewed desire for streetcars.” The article then lists eleven streetcar projects–some of them under construction, others still in early planning phases–as evidence.

One of the projects is in Kansas City, where less than a year ago voters rejected a plan to expand the starter-system funded by the feds. Another city was Milwaukee, where voters have repeatedly rejected light rail, commuter trains, and other rail boondoggles. A third city was Cincinnati, where voters elected a mayor who promised to cancel the streetcar–but was unable to override the majority of the city council. Considering opposition to streetcars in Arlington, San Antonio, and other cities, there is hardly a groundswell of support for these obsolete systems.
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The pro-streetcar article is on a website called FutureStructure, which is basically a rah-rah site for people interested in profiting off of government infrastructure spending. Many readers no doubt drooled over the 11 streetcar projects in the article whose average cost was $37 million per mile, ranging as high as $79 million in one case. Considering that it costs less than a quarter of that average to build a mile of four-lane urban freeway and that streetcars are slower than buses and have far lower capacities, these are insane amounts to spend–unless of course, you are the one profiting from government contracts.

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About The Antiplanner

The Antiplanner is a forester and economist with more than fifty years of experience critiquing government land-use and transportation plans.

9 Responses to Cities Want Federal Grants

  1. FrancisKing says:

    “Considering that it costs less than a quarter of that average to build a mile of four-lane urban freeway and that streetcars are slower than buses and have far lower capacities, these are insane amounts to spend–unless of course, you are the one profiting from government contracts.”

    The linked chart indicates costs per mile. The chart, however, has some important caveats – in particular, these costs are for new locations. If you try running a six-lane highway through the centre of a community, it will cost way more, if the proposers survive the riots which follow.

    Here’s an alternative perspective. Enjoy!

    http://www.citylab.com/commute/2015/02/the-myth-that-everyone-naturally-prefers-trains-to-buses/385759/

  2. English Major says:

    I was recently SHOCKED to read that the Atlanta Streetcar under-performed by only 18% of projections.

    Don’t they usually fail by higher margins?

    Mr. O’Toole, you do realize that the Portland street car is not about “transportation.”

    It is about a circulating day care center for the homeless. Homeless fare jumpers just plop down and enjoy a tour of our city’s boondoggles. If we shut our street car down, the homeless would just sit on benches.

  3. JOHN1000 says:

    Good article from Francis. People preferring trains over buses when shown similar photos. If someone else is bearing the cost, let’s take a train-why not?

    But if the same people were forced to pay the full cost of a train trip vs a bus, most of them would take the bus. Either willingly, to save money, or unwillingly, because they couldn’t afford to take the train.

  4. msetty says:

    The Antiplanner keeps perpetuating transportation mythology:

    Considering that it costs less than a quarter of that average to build a mile of four-lane urban freeway [~$10 milion/mile]

    Sure, if you already own the right of way and don’t have to build any structures, like interchanges. Of course, drivers like to be able to get on and off a freeway, like at interchanges…

  5. msetty says:

    “Cities want federal grants”

    And the sun rises in the East. Any new observations?

  6. FrancisKing says:

    “Good article from Francis. ”

    You’re welcome!

    As part of my MSc in Transportation Planning, we had several visits to influential projects, including the Croydon trams and Romanse. (Romanse is very sophisticated! If you don’t have one yet, buy one!
    http://www.romanse.org.uk/About-us.htm)

    The Croydon tram system was inexpensive and well designed (although one curve was too tight, causing the flange to run against the tracks – the dreaded screech). But I also noticed that there weren’t many seats – the seats they did have were from the same job lot as the buses, as was the floor and walls, and the graffitied windows. So the illusion that the tram vehicles were in some way nicer than buses only lasted until you boarded them.

  7. Frank says:

    “And the sun rises in the East. Any new observations?”

    Just an old observation: you’re an “idiot” and an asshole [sic]. The word east should not capitalized in the sentence above. How are we supposed to take anything you say seriously? Also, weren’t you leaving this blog to hang out in your own personal vacuum chamber?

  8. C. P. Zilliacus says:

    The Antiplanner wrote>

    Here’s another article claiming that the fact that cities are foolish enough to accept federal grants to build streetcars proves that “America has a renewed desire for streetcars.” The article then lists eleven streetcar projects–some of them under construction, others still in early planning phases–as evidence.

    Would that, umm, desire still be there if state/county/municipal governments had to put up 100% of the capital costs?

  9. metrosucks says:

    Also, weren’t you leaving this blog to hang out in your own personal vacuum chamber?

    I second that motion.

    Also, we should note that msetty is typically the first in any thread to use expletives and f-bombs with no provocation. What useful contribution does he make to this blog, and why does Randal call him a friend when it’s obvious that msetty thinks of the Antiplanner with contempt.

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